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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Goaltender Martin Brodeur’s return from the Olympic break brought more questions about his future and whether it will be with the Devils.

The NHL’s trade deadline is at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, so it’s now less than two weeks away. Whether Brodeur will still be a Devil after that remains to be seen, but he said today that he “probably” won’t go to management to ask for a trade or even discuss his future.

That would leave it up to general manager Lou Lamoriello to ask him to waive his no-trade clause if he has a deal that he thinks could help the Devils. Brodeur said last month, he would be open to waiving his no-trade clause if it would mean a better situation for him playing-wise and the team could pick up some assets in return.

Brodeur's contract expires after this season.

“I have no indication one way or the other that anything is going to happen,” Brodeur said. “I haven’t discussed it with anybody really to see what my plans are going to be for the next 23 games. I haven’t talked to the coach about playing time either. I’m just going to get back here, get back in playing shape for the next seven days and we’ll see if I’m going to be able to get the net.”

Although Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports Canada reported on Feb. 9 that Brodeur met with Lamoriello on Feb. 6 to discuss his future, Brodeur denied to me last week any such meeting took place, saying via email, “I haven’t discussed anything with Lou.”

His comments today were consistent with that. When asked today if he would initiate any talks with the team about a possible trade or wait for Lamoriello to come to him, Brodeur said “I’m probably going to wait. We’ll see.”

So, in that way, this year’s trade deadline could turn out to be no different than any of the others that Brodeur has faced in his 20-season career.

“It won’t be if I don’t say so. That’s the bottom line,” he said. “If I don’t say so, it’s going to be the same as the last 20 years.”

What is very different is Brodeur’s role with Cory Schneider taking over as the team’s No. 1 goaltender.

Brodeur, who will turn 42 on May 6, started just one of the team’s last nine games before the Olympic break began and head coach Pete DeBoer rode Schneider while he was hot. Brodeur last appearance was in the Jan. 26 outdoor game against the Rangers – in which he was pulled after the second period of a 7-3 loss.

Schneider started the last six games before the break. Since Jan. 1, Schneider leads the NHL with a 1.47 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. He is 6-3-4 over that span.

“It’s definitely a different situation,” he said. “I’m not used to sitting and watching and not be an impact one way or another. But it is what it is for now.”

Brodeur still feels he has a lot to contribute, but also understands why Schneider has been playing.

“I’ve had a great season so far. I’m very happy about my game,” he said. “I just wish I could have more of an opportunity, but when you have a goalie like Cory playing the way he plays, anybody in the same position would have faced the same situation I’m in.”

Brodeur said he spent “a little bit” of time thinking about his situation with the Devils while vacationing with his family in Florida.

“When you spend time and kind of sit back and relax, you always think about what’s going on and stuff,” he said. “But, it didn’t really change much about what I have in my mind for the rest of the year.”

What is in his mind?

“I just want to play hockey,” he said. “That’s it.”

Here or elsewhere?

“Here, as much as possible,” Brodeur said.

Whether Brodeur does get a chance to play more is the unknown. DeBoer said today that he hasn’t “thought through” the goaltending plan for the final 23 regular season an it’s “not necessarily” true he’ll continue to stick with Schneider.

“We’ve got two very good goaltenders and, again, we’re going to play it game to game,” DeBoer said. “I’m not hiding anything there. It’s the same message the two guys.”

Both Schneider and Brodeur confirmed that DeBoer has not discussed a goaltending schedule with them.

“He hasn’t really revealed what the plan is,” Schneider said. “I’m sure Marty is itching to get back in there and they’ll see how we both feel coming out of the break and that will determine who is going to play more.”

Even if Brodeur starts the first game coming out of the break on Thursday, Feb. 27 against Columbus, he’ll have gone a month without playing and have had just one start in 40 days. As a goaltender who as always thrived on playing frequently so he can get in a rhythm, Brodeur admits he “can’t tell” what it will be like to play after such a long layoff.

“We’ll see,” he said. “Whenever I get the next start, if I do, it’s going to be something that we’ll deal with. Whatever happens happens. I’ll prepare myself the best I can to be successful and we’ll see.”

DeBoer expressed confidence that Brodeur will be able to step in and play well whenever he gets the chance.

“He’s worked awful hard in practice to keep himself sharp,” DeBoer said. “I know it’s not an easy situation, but if there’s one guy that can handle it and come in and play well, it’s him.”

About

TOM GULITTI has covered the New Jersey Devils for The Record since 2002. Prior to that, he covered the New York Rangers for four years. Gulitti joined The Record in 1998 after six years at The North Jersey Herald News. He graduated from Binghamton University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric-Literature.